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E.U. Parliament Votes to Ratify Canada Trade Deal and Send Trump a Message E.U. Parliament Votes to Ratify Canada Trade Deal and Send Trump a Message
(35 minutes later)
STRASBOURG, France — A landmark trade deal between the European Union and Canada cleared a crucial hurdle on Wednesday, a move that proponents said served as a counterweight to protectionist policies advocated by President Trump.STRASBOURG, France — A landmark trade deal between the European Union and Canada cleared a crucial hurdle on Wednesday, a move that proponents said served as a counterweight to protectionist policies advocated by President Trump.
The ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by the European Parliament comes after seven years of tortuous negotiations, aiming to cut many tariffs on industrial goods as well as on farm and food items, and open up the services sector in areas like cargo shipping, telecommunications and financial services.The ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by the European Parliament comes after seven years of tortuous negotiations, aiming to cut many tariffs on industrial goods as well as on farm and food items, and open up the services sector in areas like cargo shipping, telecommunications and financial services.
But beyond the economics of the deal, the vote also carried, for its backers, an implicit message to the Trump administration.But beyond the economics of the deal, the vote also carried, for its backers, an implicit message to the Trump administration.
“We want to make clear in this vote that we don’t want to build walls, we want to build bridges,” said Manfred Weber, a prominent member of the European Parliament from Germany. Mr. Weber had urged completion of the deal, arguing that Europe needed to forge ahead as a commercial power in the face of headwinds from its longtime ally, the United States.“We want to make clear in this vote that we don’t want to build walls, we want to build bridges,” said Manfred Weber, a prominent member of the European Parliament from Germany. Mr. Weber had urged completion of the deal, arguing that Europe needed to forge ahead as a commercial power in the face of headwinds from its longtime ally, the United States.
Trade policy has pitted mainstream politicians who say modern deals do much to bolster prosperity while checking unbridled globalization against those — many from parties on the extreme right and left — who warn that such deals relinquish national sovereignty and hand multinational companies too much power.Trade policy has pitted mainstream politicians who say modern deals do much to bolster prosperity while checking unbridled globalization against those — many from parties on the extreme right and left — who warn that such deals relinquish national sovereignty and hand multinational companies too much power.
Lawmakers at the European Parliament comfortably approved the deal in an occasionally rowdy session by 408 votes to 254, but environmental campaigners and hard-left groups were among those holding noisy rallies outside the legislature’s glass and steel building.Lawmakers at the European Parliament comfortably approved the deal in an occasionally rowdy session by 408 votes to 254, but environmental campaigners and hard-left groups were among those holding noisy rallies outside the legislature’s glass and steel building.
The relative success in ratifying the deal, after some prominent delays — including one instance in which a Belgian regional parliament appeared to have torpedoed the entire agreement — nevertheless contrasts sharply with the failure to agree on a mooted trans-Atlantic trade deal between the European Union and the United States.The relative success in ratifying the deal, after some prominent delays — including one instance in which a Belgian regional parliament appeared to have torpedoed the entire agreement — nevertheless contrasts sharply with the failure to agree on a mooted trans-Atlantic trade deal between the European Union and the United States.
The vote on Wednesday was not, however, the final stage approval. The deal must be ratified by national and some regional parliaments across the European Union, which could create further hurdles before it goes into force.The vote on Wednesday was not, however, the final stage approval. The deal must be ratified by national and some regional parliaments across the European Union, which could create further hurdles before it goes into force.
Still, senior officials from the European Union and Canada expressed relief that the vote passed.Still, senior officials from the European Union and Canada expressed relief that the vote passed.
“The world was waiting for a strong voice from Europe and Canada, and today, Europe has spoken with a strong voice for open and progressive trade,” François-Philippe Champagne, the Canadian minister for international trade, told a news conference in Strasbourg.“The world was waiting for a strong voice from Europe and Canada, and today, Europe has spoken with a strong voice for open and progressive trade,” François-Philippe Champagne, the Canadian minister for international trade, told a news conference in Strasbourg.
For their part, Canadians were making “steady progress” toward ratification of the deal, said Mr. Champagne, who spoke in a combination of English, French and Italian to underline his country’s close ties with Europe. Those ties should be further reinforced on Thursday, when Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, is scheduled to address the Parliament.For their part, Canadians were making “steady progress” toward ratification of the deal, said Mr. Champagne, who spoke in a combination of English, French and Italian to underline his country’s close ties with Europe. Those ties should be further reinforced on Thursday, when Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, is scheduled to address the Parliament.
Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner, told the same news conference that Europe was preparing deals with more than a dozen other countries including Mexico, which is embroiled in battles over trade with the Trump administration. Mexico is an “important friend and ally,” she said.Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner, told the same news conference that Europe was preparing deals with more than a dozen other countries including Mexico, which is embroiled in battles over trade with the Trump administration. Mexico is an “important friend and ally,” she said.
The Canada deal was nearly derailed last year by Wallonia, a French-speaking region of Belgium, which used its veto to temporarily withhold the Belgian government’s approval of the deal.The Canada deal was nearly derailed last year by Wallonia, a French-speaking region of Belgium, which used its veto to temporarily withhold the Belgian government’s approval of the deal.
That Walloon protest reflected how globalization has fallen out of favor with many citizens in the West, but it also raised questions about whether the European Union had become hobbled by such wide differences between, and within, its 28 member states that it would no longer be able to make international trade deals.That Walloon protest reflected how globalization has fallen out of favor with many citizens in the West, but it also raised questions about whether the European Union had become hobbled by such wide differences between, and within, its 28 member states that it would no longer be able to make international trade deals.
Ahead of the vote, protesters laid down in front of the entrance to the Parliament in subzero temperatures, obliging visitors and staff members to clamber over their bodies. Greenpeace, an environmental group, partially submerged a statue of Lady Justice in a river running around the European Parliament, displaying banners reading “Sink CETA, not justice.” Ahead of the vote, protesters lay down in front of the entrance to the Parliament in subzero temperatures, obliging visitors and staff members to clamber over their bodies. Greenpeace, an environmental group, partially submerged a statue of Lady Justice in a river running around the European Parliament, displaying banners reading “Sink CETA, not justice.”